If you love fragrant flowers in the garden, you’ve simply got to add heliotrope to your flowerbeds. These wonderfully perfumed flowering plants are simply stunning. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss has the info on growing and taking care of these pretty perennials. You may have noticed in your gardening adventures that some flowers seem to follow the sun across the sky. Sunflowers, for instance, will turn their flowers to face the sun throughout the day. Although this is a fairly common trait among flowers, heliotrope gets its name for this habit. It means to turn or change with the sun. Heliotropes are a favorite summer bloomer with lovely, fragrant flowers and dense, textured foliage. They are sometimes known as cherry pie plants because of their fragrance. The flowers are said to smell like a sweet dessert with notes of vanilla and cherry with a nutty almond undertone. Though they are often grown as annuals, these plants are perennial in warm climates. They make a beautiful addition to the garden. They are especially nice to plant near entryways, paths, and outdoor living spaces, where their scent can be best enjoyed. What Is It? Very popular in the Victorian era, heliotrope was a common flower to find in gardens and parks. One was even placed on the casket of the famous American poetess, Emily Dickinson. This sweet-smelling flower has traveled across the seas and back again. Let’s explore the origins of the plant, and discuss how to help this vintage flower flourish in the modern garden. Characteristics This blooming beauty is a perennial in warm climates and is usually grown as an annual in cooler ones. It is a small, shrubby plant that can reach up to six feet tall in its natural environment. In cultivation, it will be closer to half that size. The leaves are oval-shaped and deep green with a rough texture and prominent veining. Some varieties have leaves with a purple tint, while others are solid green. They can also have a wrinkled texture. This flower is prized for its fragrant flowers. These five-lobed blossoms grow in flat clusters and can be shades of blue, violet, or white. The perfume is sweet and delicate with almond undertones and notes of vanilla and fruit. Older varieties tend to have a stronger scent than newer hybrid varieties. These plants have a long blooming season that lasts from late spring until early fall. Deadheading the blooms will result in more flower production, as it helps the plant to redirect energy to new growth. Native Area Heliotrope plants are native to the Americas, with species occurring in North, South, and Central America alike. Their habitats differ by species. Some species grow naturally in arid, desert areas, while others prefer moist woodlands. Still others are decidedly salt-tolerant and grow in sandy, coastal areas. Planting You can grow this plant in the ground, as well as in containers. It makes an excellent border plant and is stunning in a mass planting. The plants grow taller than they do wide, so plant them relatively close together. Leave about 12″ of space between these and their neighboring plants. Plant your heliotrope in the spring after all the threat of frost has passed. Start them from seed ahead of time to maximize bloom time. This is especially important in climates with short growing seasons.

Are you looking for seriously delicious berries to grow this year? If so, try planting tayberries for their bountiful harvests and easy-to-maintain nature. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum covers how to plant, grow, and care for tayberries. Tayberries are delicious, sweet, and juicy, with refreshing tartness and great texture. They’re even sweeter than loganberries and have a very berry-like flavor that almost resembles a dark blackberry wine. Like blackberries and raspberries, they’re incredibly easy to grow in many climates throughout the US. They produce a massive harvest in mid-summer. Enjoy them raw right off the vine or use them in jams, sauces, or fruit wines. Grow these beautiful berries wherever you grow blackberries and raspberries. They’ll thrive with very little maintenance and provide tons of fresh fruit for very little effort. Let’s dive into more about these wonderful plants and their mouth-watering fruit. What Is It? Tayberries are a cross between blackberries and red raspberries. They share many characteristics with the two plant species. They have a sweet and tart flavor that’s hard not to adore, especially on a warm summer day. These berries grow on long canes, which are covered in sharp thorns, similar to many varieties of blackberries. The canes radiate from the central plant and are easy to control. Tayberries produce larger fruits than blackberries or raspberries, which can get to over an inch long. Because they’re more delicate than their parent species, they have almost no commercial value other than novelty jams and wines. Characteristics Tayberry plants produce fruit on 2-year-old canes. After producing fruit, these canes will naturally die back. New canes will grow from the central plant and be ready for fruiting the following year. Unlike some species of blackberries, tayberries are easy to control. They work great as natural hedges or edible border crops. Their canes will grow up to 6 feet in length, with some individuals growing larger in the right conditions. The fruits appear red to dark purple. The darker berries tend to have the most sweetness, while the red berries have higher acidity. The fruits are actually aggregate fruits, meaning they’re made up of tiny druplets, each with a seed inside. Besides their delicious fruit, these berries attract beneficial pollinators to your garden. They’re also one of the prized species on the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit list. Native Area Tayberries were first introduced to the world in Scotland at the Scottish Horticultural Research Institute. In 1980, horticulturist Derek Jennings crossed a European raspberry with an Aurora blackberry plant. After creating the new hybrid, he named it after the River Tay in Scotland. The plant quickly gained popularity throughout the UK. Soon, growers brought tayberries to the US, where they took off in the Pacific Northwest. Their parents originated in Europe. Other species of brambles are native throughout the world. They grow in cooler regions with heavy moisture and temperate climates. People have been eating and cultivating brambles for thousands of years as food and medicine. Planting Planting tayberries is incredibly easy and similar to raspberries and blackberries. They’re less likely to grow uncontrollably than many popular blackberry varieties. Tayberries are trailing types of brambles that grow best on trellises. Plant them with plenty of space from other individuals to avoid overcrowding. Grow them in garden beds or around your garden borders. They’ll flourish as long as the soil is well-drained and full of organic material. Plant them with other sun-loving berries or brambles for a productive edible garden.

If you’re looking for a unique flower to grow this year, try growing pineapple lilies. These flowers produce tall greenish-white to pink bracts that actually resemble pineapples. In this article, plant expert Matt Dursum shows you how to plant, grow, and care for these magical flowers. Pineapple lilies are bulbous perennials that really stand out from other flowers. They have gorgeous green to white bracts that stand on tall racemes. As their common name suggests, these lilies actually look like cartoonish pineapples. These stunning flowers bloom in the summer and keep their pineapple-like blooms for at least 2 months. The flowers will bring a touch of the tropics to your garden. Plant them along with other tropical-looking flowers or as standalone showpieces. Some species can grow to around 3 feet tall. Because of their height and unique shape, they’ll capture a lot of attention. Let’s dive into how to plant, grow, and care for these attractive tropical bulbs. They are easy to grow and maintain, making them perfect beginner flowers. What Is It? Pineapple lilies have no relation to pineapples or lilies. Contrary to their name, they’re actually members of the Asparagaceae Family of plants. These include asparagus, lily-of-the-valley, and snake plant. These flowers are members of the Eucomis genus, which gets its name from the word ‘Eukomos’ which means “beautifully haired” in Greek. There are around 13 species in the genus, each with unique sizes and colors. These plants look amazing as garden centerpieces or along borders. You’ll usually get your first blooms in summer, which can last into fall. They look gorgeous surrounded by green ground cover and other tropical-looking plants. Characteristics Pineapple lilies grow from bulbs that shoot out tall racemes in their centers. The flowers are incredibly beautiful. They can be a variety of colors, including white, green, pink, purple, or cream colored. As they mature, they send up tall stalks known as racemes. These flower clusters support several flower clusters that grow on uniform stalks. At the top of the racemes are bracts that resemble the top leaves of a pineapple. Some species give off a fragrance similar to cooked potatoes. The leaves are long and form a rosette around a central stem. Most cultivars have green to dark green leaves, while some produce beautiful purple leaves. Some species are miniature and barely reach 8 inches in height. Others can grow to 3 feet. You can plant several species in your flower garden for a multitextured appearance. The tallest varieties look amazing in the center of a cut garden while miniature varieties make fantastic borders. Native Area Eucomis plants are native to sub-tropical South Africa. Many species grow wild throughout southern Africa. They grow in low-lying regions and grasslands. These species thrive as perennials in warm climates between zones 7 to 10. They can handle some winter cold but prefer warm temperatures year-round. These plants grow best in somewhat rocky areas with a wide range of soil types. Because of this, they’ll thrive in many areas of the US. Planting These bulbs are incredibly easy to plant. Start by choosing healthy bulbs that feel heavy and look large. They should feel dense and have nice coloration without any blemishes or cuts. Typically, the larger the bulbs are, the healthier and more colorful their flowers will be. Plant them root side down in the springtime after the last threat of frost has passed. The best soil temperature is at or above 65°F (18°C). Place the bulbs upright in loose, well-drained loamy soil up to 6 inches deep. You can also start them indoors earlier in the year in containers like these and transplant them when the weather warms. Aim for a spot with full sun or partial shade. These flowers love areas with a little afternoon shade to shield them, especially in warmer regions. Space each bulb about 6 inches apart to give them enough room to grow and not overcrowd each other. After planting, give them a good soaking and keep the soil lightly moist as they grow.